Waking up Drenched? Avoid These Common Night Sweats Triggers

Night sweats are the pits. If you’ve ever abruptly woken up drenched in sweat, then you may be part of the 3 percent of people suffering from sleep hyperhidrosis, or night sweats. But there’s good news: you may not be doomed to suffer frequent sleep disruptions and daily sheet-changing forever. We rounded up essential information about night sweats so you can get the zzz’s you need.

What Causes Night Sweats?

Even if you only experienced it once, you know that there’s nothing ordinary about night sweats. In some cases, night sweats can simply be a case of sleeping on the wrong mattress — like one that traps in body heat — but in other cases, the sweating can be caused by conditions like:

Avoid Triggers

Obviously bundling up and raising the thermostat can lead to a hot night’s sleep. But did you know that some relatively common habits can lead to night sweats? Stop or cut back on habits like drinking alcohol or caffeine smoking, especially at night.

Chill Out

Battle your night sweats by creating a cool sleeping environment. Start by turning the thermostat down. The National Sleep Foundation recommends setting the temperature to somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit for a sound, comfy sleep.

Create Calm

The same stress and anxiety that keeps you sweating things out during the day can contribute to sweating in your sleep. Try creating a calming sleep ritual like reading, listening to music, or meditating to reduce sweat-inducing stress before bedtime. Listening to a relaxing podcast, like Sleep with Me and Meditation Minis, is a great way to distract yourself if your mind is running.

Should You See a Doctor?

If you’ve tried everything and still wake up in a pool of sweat, you might want to schedule an appointment with your doctor. While night sweats are annoying sleep disruptions, they can also be a symptom of infection or disease.

Whether the root of the problem is a stifling mattress or a medical condition, you don’t have to suffer night after night. And though there’s no one-size-fits-all remedy for coping with night sweats, getting a cool foundation certainly helps. Start reclaiming your right to cool, comfortable sleep.